New York Rangers vs Vegas Golden Knights Picks and Predictions February 2nd 2025

New York Rangers vs Vegas Golden Knights February 2nd 2025

Planning on watching today’s Golden Knights and Rangers game? Catch the action at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY, as the Rangers hosts this showdown at 6:00 ET on ESPN+. In this non-conference matchup, the Golden Knights are favored by -1.5 vs. the Rangers. The over/under for the game is 6.5 goals.

Vegas vs. New York Key Information

• Teams: Golden Knights at Rangers
• Where: Madison Square Garden New York
• Date: Sunday, February 2nd
• Betting Odds VEG -133 | NYR +112 O/U 6.5

The Golden Knights Can Win If…

Vegas improved to 31-15-6 with a 4-3 overtime win against Utah. The Golden Knights trailed 2-0 before rallying to tie the game in the second period. As -1.5 goal favorites, they failed to cover the puck line, but the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.5.

Four different players scored for Vegas in the win. Utah took the lead with two goals, but Pavel Dorofeyev got the Golden Knights on the board at 15:06 in the second period. Brett Howden scored the game-winner 2:15 into overtime.

The Golden Knights fired 35 shots on goal in their 4-3 overtime victory, with Brett Howden netting his 6th goal of the season just 2:15 into overtime. William Karlsson added his second goal of the year, while Pavel Dorofeyev scored his 7th and Noah Hanifin his 2nd.

Hanifin also contributed with two assists, bringing his season total to 4 and 5. Vegas had 13 giveaways and failed to score on any power plays.

Defensively, the Golden Knights will look to improve after allowing the first two goals in their previous game against Utah, as well as the tying goal at 3-3. Adin Hill made 16 saves with a save percentage of 84.2%, while the defense added 10 takeaways and 22 hits.

• Over their last three regular season games, the Golden Knights have gone 1-2 straight up. Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 1-2 to go along with an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Vegas has put together a record of 3-7 in their last ten games (regular season). The team’s record vs the puck line was just 5-5, in addition to an over-under mark of 5-4-1.

The Rangers Can Win If…

The Rangers moved above .500 with a 5-2 win over the Islanders, bringing their record to 24-23-4. As -1.5 goal favorites, they covered the puck line, and the total of 7 goals surpassed the pre-game line of 6.

Four different players contributed to the scoring for the Rangers, with Artemi Panarin leading the way with two goals. The Rangers built a 2-0 lead before the Islanders got on the board, and they sealed the win with an empty-net goal in the third period.

Artemi Panarin led the way with two goals in the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Islanders, including his 9th of the season on an empty net. Chris Kreider opened the scoring with his 8th goal, while Vincent Trocheck added his 4th. Adam Edstrom netted his 1st goal of the season.

Mika Zibanejad contributed with three assists, bringing his total to 8 this season. The Rangers fired 40 shots on goal and scored once on the power play, with Kreider’s goal coming shorthanded.

Defensively, the Rangers will look to carry over their third-period performance from their previous game, where they shut out the Islanders, leading to a 5-2 victory. Igor Shesterkin made 35 saves with a 94.6% save percentage, and the Rangers’ defense added 10 takeaways, 19 hits, and 18 blocks.

• Through their last three regular season contests, New York has a record of 0-3. In these contests, the team went just 0-3 against the spread, while going 2-1 on the over-under.
• New York has put together a record of 5-5 in their last ten games (regular season). Their record against the puck line in this stretch is 5-5 to go along with an over-under mark of 5-5.

The Lean

If you’re looking for a moneyline pick, my choice is the Rangers to take down the Golden Knights at home. With the moneyline currently at +112, I’m placing my bet on the Rangers straight-up.

If you’re looking to get a bet down on this matchup, we foresee the Rangers winning the underdog. However, if you’re not as confident in the Rangers straight-up, we’d still recommend placing a bet on them to cover the puck line.

If you’re looking at the the over/under line set at 6.5 goals, our prediction is that this game will stay below that threshold, and we strongly suggest placing a bet on the under.

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Rangers Aim for Defensive Improvement Against Golden Knights

The New York Rangers are looking to get back on track as they host the Vegas Golden Knights on Sunday night. After allowing 15 goals in their last three games, the Rangers need to shore up their defense to snap a losing streak.

Rangers Struggling Defensively

The Rangers (30-17-3) were red-hot with a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) but have since dropped three straight, including a 6-3 loss to Boston on Saturday.

Key struggles for New York:

• Defensive breakdowns, allowing 5+ goals in back-to-back games
• Poor penalty killing (3 power-play goals allowed vs. Bruins)
• Scoring inconsistency outside of J.T. Miller’s debut performance

J.T. Miller Shines in Return

In his first game back with the Rangers, Miller made an instant impact, scoring two goals against Boston. The 31-year-old forward, who was traded from Vancouver on Friday, is excited to be back in New York.

“I couldn’t be happier to be here now,” Miller said. “This team is one of the best in the league, and I’m excited to help them get back on track.”

What Miller Brings to the Rangers:

✅ Offensive firepower (two goals in his debut)
✅ Playoff experience
✅ Strong two-way play

Golden Knights Slumping at the Wrong Time

Vegas (29-16-6) has lost three of four games and has struggled offensively, scoring just one goal in each of their last two losses.

Recent issues for Vegas:

• 3-6-3 record over their last 12 games
• Lack of scoring depth (held under 30 shots in four straight games)
• Captain Mark Stone has just 2 goals in his past 12 games

Vegas dropped a 2-1 OT decision to the Rangers on Jan. 11, part of their recent slide.

Brandon Saad Joins the Golden Knights

In an effort to boost their offense, Vegas signed two-time Stanley Cup winner Brandon Saad to a one-year deal.

Saad recorded seven goals and 16 points in 43 games with St. Louis before parting ways with the Blues. He could make his debut on Sunday in a lineup missing William Karlsson (lower body, out five games).

Game Outlook: Can the Rangers Tighten Up Defensively?

Both teams are looking to bounce back from recent struggles in this Eastern vs. Western Conference showdown. The Rangers need to clean up their defense, while the Golden Knights must generate more offense.

Can J.T. Miller provide another offensive spark for the Rangers? Or will the Golden Knights end their slump with a much-needed win?